Jordan Farmar going from NBA champion to 12-win team? Huh?Dave D'Alessandro/The Star-Ledger
Published: Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 9:25 PM
Updated: Thursday, July 15, 2010, 10:21 AM
So you’re 23 years old, you own two rings with the Lakers, you played in your hometown in front of your family and friends for four years, and then one day you decide to chuck it all for a chance to play with a 12-70 train wreck.
Jordan Farmar, please explain yourself.
“We talked about it, and it wasn’t really how I wanted to spend my whole career, being a backup in a triangle (offense),” the Nets’ new backup point guard explained yesterday.
“I didn’t know if Phil (Jackson) was coming back, didn’t know what direction they were going to go in. So that uncertainty led us to go different ways.”
This is, sure enough, a guy who likes to make his own path.
Farmar said he only went to UCLA because the program was a disaster and he wanted to rebuild it.
He said he has come to Jersey because he wants to prove to the rest of the league that he’s not just a spot-up shooter on the weak side, he’s a starting-quality point. He said he’s leaving his beloved L.A. because it’s time to escape the cocoon.
But ... the Nets?
“We’ve got a new owner, a new coach, and we’re working on a new arena,” Farmar said. “There are some big things with this organization — it’s committed to winning, and that’s what I’m all about. I’ve had my fair share of that, and I’m trying to help this organization move in that direction.”
He added, it was about “playing time.”
“It was a chance to be part of something special,” Farmar said. “It was a lot of Avery Johnson — being able to play for a point guard, someone who will appreciate the little things I do. He’ll help me grow as a player in this league, (and that) was really closer to my decision.”
• The other three free agents — small forward Travis Outlaw, wing Anthony Morrow and center Johan Petro — all agreed the coach’s vitality was a major factor in their decision to come here.
The 12-70 meltdown last season was a non-factor, as Outlaw put it.
“I hit Portland when it was bad,” said the seven-year pro, now the longest-tenured NBA player on Johnson’s team. “And I looked here and I think it was just missing some things. They can make up for it in free agency. Other than that, it didn’t look too bad.”
• With 12 guaranteed contracts and two others expected to survive training camp (Brian Zoubek, Ben Uzoh), the Nets still have room for a starting power forward, and the coach seeks to find him before the first preseason game.
“We’re not sure it’s going to happen in the next day or two — it may take a little longer with the route we’ll take,” said Johnson, alluding to how the Nets’ cap space ($14.9 million) is sacrosanct, unless there’s a home-run deal to be made.
“What we’re trying to accomplish is not easy. It could be very difficult. So I’m not necessarily confident it will happen before training camp. I’d like for it to happen before we get on a plane for China.”
To keep up with Jordan, check out The Hoop Farm.
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